Save Pete the Moose!

The story of Pete the Moose and his human friend, David, residing in Vermont, is a unique tale. Pete the Moose was attacked by dogs and mauled when he was about 5 days old. Vermont Fish and Wildlife told the people who found Pete to let him die. They couldn't bear to just leave him there. So, they took him to a kind man named David Lawrence, and he nursed Pete back to health.

In saving his life & caring for him over 14 months, Pete & David forged a special friendship. But as a result of this same closeness, Pete LOVES people, and so he does not have the normal fear of Man that he should. It would have been VERY dangerous for him to be released back into the wild. So David found an enclosed, 600-acre ranch in the area that is fenced in. The Game Reserve is owned by another nice man named Doug, and he generously provided Pete a place where he (ironically)could live a wild life safe from hunters. Pete lives there along with about 120 other deer and moose that have also gotten thru the "State Designed and Approved" fence.

Enter the Bureaucrats... Now the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife wants to destroy Pete & the other animals there. Part of Pete's diet comes from from animal feed. Because of this, Vermont State Officials claim animals there could contract something called "Chronic Wasting Disease", a brain ailment that affects deer-like animals, and which can be spread animal-to-animal or via feed. And so the Dept of F&W would like to "remove" the deer and moose that now inhabit this property. And by "remove", they mean "kill". They have known about us all along, but they didn't care to try and help out a long time ago. Instead, they sat back and did nothing until now...

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO SAVE PETE! We DO NOT want Pete destroyed! We DO NOT want Pete in a zoo! And we want the Governor of Vermont to put whatever promises he makes about what will happen to Pete to be put in writing! Click on SavePeteTheMoose.org to sign a petition in support of Pete The Moose.

Source: savepetethemoose.org

Look At That (Doggie) Smile!

Janie Killion holds her English Bull Terrier, "Zulu", as they rest between judging rounds at the National Dog Show hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia on November 14, 2009.

Source: AP Photo / Bradley C. Bower

More Pets to Receive Gifts This Holiday Season

Christmas could prove to be a holiday bonanza for cats and dogs across the U.S.

The poll found that six in 10 of those who own only dogs planned on shopping for their pet for the holidays. Forty percent of those with only cats planned to pet shop.

An Associated Press-Petside.com poll suggests 52 percent of pet owners plan to buy their animals a holiday gift -- up from 43 percent last year. The bounce in pet gifts is expected despite the fact that fully 93 percent of Americans say they'll spend less overall or about the same as last year, according to a separate Associated Press-GfK poll.

Jessica Douglas, a spokeswoman for the PetSmart pet supply store chain, says plush holiday-themed toys are very popular, as are candy cane-shaped rawhide chews. Gifts shaped like bones are also in the mix.

Source: ap

Police Dogs On The Job in Papua, New Guinea

It started raining “cats and dogs” and everyone scurried for refuge under a large make-shift tent.
I put on my coat to keep out the cold mountain air that descended abruptly with the deluge and joined the rest under the lean-to. After I was safely sheltered, I kneeled and rummaged through my rucksack to ensure the rain had not seeped through the fabric. I let out a sigh of relief as the interior of the sack was dry and my trade tools, a digital camera, voice recorder and mobile phone were dry as a bone.

But my relief was short-lived as when I looked up a menacing canine was heading directly towards me. I was about to both but a reassuring grin from the handler eased my fears.
Corporal Wass Kandan and his canine, named Max, are with the NCD Police Dog unit, I found out moments later. The location was the Nogoli market near the Oil Search ridge camp at Hides, about 4000m above sea level. The occasion was the Licence-Based Benefits Sharing Agreement forums in the oil and gas rich Hela and Southern Highlands provinces. Hides is South of the Hela capital, Tari, where it’s much, much colder. Another canine, named Talis, and his partner Constable Reeves Mota, were also deployed to provide support to the strong Mobile Squad Units. The primary mission for the Dog Unit was crowd control and if the need arose to pursue any troublemakers. This mission, according to Cpl Kandan is the first major deployment for the dog unit, and if the precedent is set, similar missions will ensue in future.

In PNG, police dogs do not get the attention in fighting crime and riot control but they play and can contribute immensely to police operations. Cpl Kandan is witness to that. He explained that Max is trained specifically to assist police officers during riots for crowd control and he is also ready to sniff out drugs and explosives and also chase and apprehend suspects. “Max is well behaved and disciplined, but can become instantly aggressive upon my command,” Cpl Kandan said. Constable Reeves echoed similar sentiments. The dogs and their handlers are best friends.
According to the two policemen, once a dog and an officer become partners, it’s for life unless either canine or man retires.

I was touched to learn that the two policemen have been sleeping beside their dogs since coming into the area, because the dogs did not like the idea of sleeping in their kennel. Max is past his retirement age of five by two years. “He’s getting old to be on duty, but until the Police get new dogs, Max will be on call,” he said.

Cpl Kandan said he has been with the unit for close to eight years now and his duty very much relies on his partner Max. “Our dogs are an integral part of Police operations, should he be injured or die while serving the nation he will be accorded a proper funeral just like any officer,” his handler said. That is the respect that reflects the importance of police dogs.

When the canines retire both officers said they are ready to adopt them and take them home to settle into a life as a family pet. Indeed, dogs are a man’s best friend.

“Woof, woof,” Max agrees.

Source: thenational.com

Firefighter is a Hero to a Puppy

As Tulsa Police Officer Jacob Johnston approached the scene of a traffic accident on the night of November 23, 2009, he heard whimpering coming from an ice chest along the side of the road.

Johnston found an abandoned puppy in an ice chest off the side of the road along 61st Street near U.S. 75. Firefighter David Merrill, who also responded to the accident, adopted the puppy on the spot.

Merrill said he already has one dog and three kids, who will be getting an early Christmas present. The dog will be named Lucky, Merrill said.

Source: tulsaworld.com

Piggie's Post-Humorous Revenge: Paula Deen Smacked by a Ham

Celebrity chef Paula Deen got an unexpected serving of ham — across her face. The Food Network star was helping unload 25,000 pounds of donated meat for an Atlanta food bank on November 22, 2009 when someone threw one of the hams like a football and accidentally smacked her.

Deen tells WGCL-TV: “I thought it busted my lip, but it didn’t.” Though smiles and laughter, Deen added: “I’m OK. It just knocked me for a little bit.”

She says she was unloading hams when she tossed one to a man, who then said “Back at ’ya.” Thinking he meant it only as a sentiment, she turned around to get another ham when the errant swine came at her. “He really meant, ’Back at ’ya.” ’

Later, she tweeted: “I haven’t met the ham that could stop me yet!”

Source: theledger.com

Baboons Raid Cars for Food

Visitors to Cape Town, South Africa could find themselves robbed by a furry kind of felon: baboons. The cheeky primates have learned how to open car doors and jump through windows in pursuit of tasty sandwiches and snacks.

City officials are battling to control the increasingly aggressive troupes and there are fears the problem will only worsen with the influx of visitors to Cape Town during the World Cup next year.

On November 24, 2009, a group of 29 baboons raided four cars outside Simon's Town, a small coastal neighborhood. A baboon dubbed "Fred," the leader of the group (seen at top in photo) opened unlocked doors and jumped through windows to search for food.

There are about 420 baboons in 17 troupes that roam the city's outskirts, especially the popular scenic sites along the coast. Baboons are a protected species under South African legislation but their persistent pursuit of food has led to conflict with residents.

Source: ap

200,000 Animals Slaughtered in Hindu Festival

Hindu devotees lined up outside a temple in southern Nepal on November 24, 2009 at the start of a two-day religious celebration involving the sacrificial slaughter of over 200,000+ animals. More than 200,000 buffaloes, goats, chickens and pigeons will be killed on November 24 and 25, 2009 at the temple in the jungles of Bara district, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Katmandu. Protests have occurred in recent weeks in towns near the Gadhimai temple and in the capital Katmandu by animals rights activists and other religious groups; however, Hindu organizers said they would not halt the slaughter because it was a centuries-old tradition which occurs every five years. Participants believe sacrificing the animals for the Hindu goddess "Gadhimai" will end evil and bring prosperity.

Source: ap

Pet Airways "Operation Thanksgiving Day" Flies Plane Full of Rescue Pets for Free

The first ever pet rescue airlift will take place this Thanksgiving Holiday with a flight from Pet Airways' Pet Lounge at Chicago's Midway Airport to the Pet Airways Pet Lounge in Farmingdale, New York. "Operation Thanksgiving Day Pet Flight to Freedom" will provide a plane load of pets with a free flight to a better life.

In conjunction with Best Friends Animal Society www.bestfriends.org, Pet Airways www.petairways.com is helping to place these currently homeless dogs with new families by providing free transportation to the New York area where they will be made available for adoption.

As part of its ongoing mission of working toward a time when there are No More Homeless Pets(TM), Best Friends collaborates with rescue and shelter organizations throughout the country to place needy pets in loving homes. One of the issues of rescuing large numbers of pets is getting them to new homes. Pet Airways is helping in this endeavor, by flying an entire planeload of rescued dogs to New York, where a local shelter has come forth to accept these pets to help them be adopted.

Pet Airways was created to provide a safe and comfortable alternative to flying pets in the cargo hold of planes. Pet Airways Pawsengers fly in the main cabin of the aircraft with a Pet Attendant watching over them at all times.

As part of Pet Airways' Corporate Responsibility Policy, Pet Airways provides space on our planes to help pets that need to be rescued. Thanksgiving is a great day to not only give our pets a hug for all the love that they give us, but to also help out some pets in need.

Follow the rescue and how the pets travel on the Pet Airways website. Pets are being driven to Chicago by Best Friends on Thanksgiving Day where they will have their Thanksgiving dinner at the Pet Airways Pet Lounge. After the dinner, pets will enjoy the love of lots of volunteers, will sleep happily that night, and board the Pet Airways Pet Flight to Freedom on Friday morning.

Source: petairways.com

Das Fuhrry

Come On....You gotta laugh!

Credit: catsthatlooklikehitler.com

Antifreeze Will Kill Your Pet

We all need a little tune up this time of year, and your car especially may be screaming for some antifreeze. But pet parents, take care around your dog or cat to make sure he doesn't lick this sweet-tasting poison from the driveway or garage floor.

According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, thousands of pets are exposed to antifreeze each year. Used to protect cars from extreme temperatures, antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, a colorless and odorless alcohol known for its attractive taste. Even small amounts have deadly consequences—one teaspoon of ethylene glycol can be fatal to a 10-pound cat, while one to two tablespoons can kill a 10-pound dog.

"The symptoms of ingestion vary depending on how much time has passed and how much the animal has consumed," says ASPCA Director of Medicine, Dr. Louise Murray. "Initially the animal may act 'drunk,' wobbly and unsteady, and develop nausea and increased thirst. As time passes, there are signs of kidney failure, such as lack of appetite, vomiting, lethargy, and eventually failure to produce urine." The best chance for survival is initiating aggressive treatment within the first four to 12 hours of ingestion. Once signs of kidney problems develop, the likelihood for recovery is low.

Prevent your animal companions from coming into contact with antifreeze by storing it in a secure cabinet and monitoring cars to make sure radiator hoses aren't leaking. When flushing or refilling radiators, keep pets inside and immediately clean up any spills. So-called "pet safe" antifreeze products do exist, and they typically contain propylene glycol, which is less toxic than ethylene glycol but can still cause intoxication.

If you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous, please contact your nearest 24-hour emergency vet or the ASPCA's 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.

Credit: aspca.org

Man Broke Her in More Ways Than One

A dog who survived being mercilessly thrown off a six-story Brooklyn roof this summer has been euthanized -- despite a barrage of impassioned pleas from animal-rights supporters.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Oreo, a 1-year-old brown and white pit-bull mix, was put to death yesterday.

The ASPCA said it determined, after working for months to rehabilitate Oreo, that she was too dangerous ever to be placed in a home or even to live among other dogs again.

Oreo suffered two broken legs when she was flung off the roof of an apartment building in the Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn on June 18, 2009.

Fabian Henderson, 19, pleaded guilty to a felony count of animal cruelty. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2009. Neither he nor his attorney could be reached for comment yesterday.

Source: nypost.com

A Doggy Summer!

Source: youtube.com

Life Is Good!

Source: carlinoworld.it

Visit Your Dog's Ancestral Home - Golden Retriever

Origin: Tomich, Scotland

Story: In 1865, the avid hunter Lord Tweedmouth plucked the sole yellow puppy from a litter of black retrievers in Brighton, England. He named him Nous, brought him to his home, and bred him with Belle, a Tweed water spaniel. The union led to the large, good-natured golden retriever. In present-day Scotland, retrievers are usually pets and farm animals.

The trip: Travel four hours north of Edinburgh to Tomich, a well preserved 19th-century hamlet built by Lord Tweedmouth. Stop in at the Tomich Hotel, where the owners can direct you to Tweedmouth's deserted and roofless former home, Guisachan (goosh-e-can) Manor, which is roughly three miles away. Park next to the manor for a stroll. Gorgeous waterfalls can be found in the neighboring Glen Affric Nature Reserve (glenaffric.org). Consider the eight-bedroom Tomich Hotel for your stay. For train trips between London and Edinburgh, check the excursion rates on Raileasy (raileasy.co.uk). Some train lines allow dogs the size of golden retrievers to travel for free as long as they are leashed. Call National Rail for rules on a specific train line (011-44/845-748-4950).

Hot tip: U.S. dogs can enter the United Kingdom without quarantine as long as they're microchipped, vaccinated for rabies, and have had their blood tested. Owners must carry documents to prove all of the above, plus a bill of health from a vet that notes that your dog has been treated for ticks and tapeworms.

Credit: msnbc.com; Photo: dogslife.com.au